Telegraphic block-signal system.



No. 635,820. Patented Oct. 8|, I899. W. C. TABER.

TELEGRAPHIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

A lication filed Juiy 2, 1898,\

{No Model.)

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- specification. I

NITED STATES rrrost PATENT WILLIAM C. TABER, OF NORTH COLLINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO- THIRDS TO FRANK E. GAYLORD AND CHARLES M. L. ASHBY, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEGRAPHIC BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,820, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed July 2, 1898- Serial No. 685,036. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. TABER, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Collins, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraphic Block- Signal Systems, of which the following is a It is the usual practice on railways using block-signal and telegraphic systems for controlling the movements of their trains for the operator at a block-station to set his signal to the danger position immediately after the passage of a train in order to block a following train'and to report back the fact that the train has passed, the operations of setting the signal and of sending the telegraphic message being quite independent of each other. In the working of such a system it is possible, and it has sometimes occurred, that an operator fails to set the signal before he reports the passage of the train and neglects to do so after making such report, thus permitting a train following the one which he has just reported and which has been sent forward on the faith of his report to pass his station at full speed, even though it may be that the section in front is not clear, with the incident danger of a serious rear-end collision.

It is the object of my invention to renderit impossible for an operator to report back the passage of a train until he has first set his signal to the danger position, so as to block any approaching train.

The invention consists, broadly stated, in the combination of a signaling mechanism, a telegraphic line, and means for making a ground connection or break in the line back of the sending instrument and so connected with or controlled by the signal mechanism that the ground connection or break is made whenever the signal is set to any other than the danger position.

The invention further consists of the oom bination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter set forth, whereby the objects of my invention are attained and whereby a block telegraphic system is improved.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing a portion of a block-signal and telegraphic system including three stations. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional elevation and a top plan view of the levers by which the semaphores and the ground electric connections are made, the in closing casing being shown in section in both cases.

In the drawings the three stations are designated, respectively, A, B, and C. As the equipment at each station will be substantially the same, I will describe in detail only the arrangement of parts at one station.

2 represents the main telegraphic line, in which are located the sending instruments 3 and the receiving instruments 4;, these being of any usualor preferred construction.

For simplicity of illustration I have omitted showing all local circuits, it being, however, understood that the usual relays, local circuits, and batteries, sounder-s, &c., are employed. The parts designated 4 on the drawings stand for these features of equipment, and wherever in this specification I employ the terms sounders or receiving instruments I wish to be understood as including thereby such features or-parts of a telegraphic system as may be brought into use in receiving a message, whether such parts be simple or complicated.

'At each station I prefer to locate two sounders or receiving instruments located on either side of the key or sending instrument 3, and those at the station E, I have designated 4 and 4, the sounder 4 being on the side of the key toward the station A and the sounder 4 on the side toward the station C.

At each station there are semaphores or like signal devices located as may be required and represented on the drawings by the letter S. Each signal is connected with a handle, lever, or other operating device 16, by means of which its position is controlled in a well-known manner. The lever 16 is represented as having three positions of adjustment to which it may be set and which on the drawings are marked, respectively, Caution, Clear, and Danger. It will be understood that when the lever is set to one or the other of these positions a corresponding movement or position is given to the signal device.

Connected with or controlled by the signaloperating devices are ground connections for the main line 2, and I will first describe such a ground connection and will then set forth how it is operated or controlled.

6 represents a ground-wire leading from a contact plate or piece 11, and 7 and 8 are branch wires leading from the main line 2 on opposite sides, respectively, of the key or sending instrument 3 and terminated at contact-making springs or pieces 9, located adjacent to the contact-piece 11. These contact-springs tend normally to separate from the contact-piece 11, but are adapted to be brought independently into contact therewith and to so complete the ground connections.

In order to make the necessary contacts to complete the ground connections, I connect each lever 16 with a head or cam 17, arranged to bear against one of the contact springs or pieces 9 either directly or preferably through an interposed bearing-block 10 of insulating material. The head 17 has a depressed portion or recess 18, which is so located as to come opposite to the bearing-piece 10 when the lever is in position to set the signal to danger, so that the contact-pieces 9 and 11 may separate and the ground connection be broken. \Vhenever the lever is moved to other positions, setting the signal to cantion or to clear, the contact is made and the ground connection completed. As the normal position of the signal is when set to danger, it follows that the ground-line is normally open or broken.

12 represents a two-point ground-switch connected by a wire 13 directly with the ground-wire 6. It is arranged so that it can be moved into contact with either of the two points 14 or 15 or to a position midway between them and out of contact with either of them. The points 14 and 15 are electrically connected with the branch wires 7 and 8, respectively.

It is well understood that where the line is provided, as is the usual custom, with main batteries at its respective ends if the line be broken at any two intermediate points or stations it becomes inoperative between such points, as the battery connections are cut off in both directions, and as this might occur in a system equipped with my invention I prefer to locate at each intermediate or local office a sufficient number of battery-cells to operate the section of the line between such station and the next instead of depending upon main batteries at the terminal stations. These batteries are represented at 20.

I will now trace the circuits in a system equipped as just described. As hereinbefore stated, the normal arrangement of the devices is to have the semaphores and their connections set to the danger position, thus disconnecting or breaking the electrical contacts with the contact piece or plate 11. The line is then open or continuous from station to station, and messages may be sent in either direction in the usual way. The circuit may be traced as follows, beginning at the left of the sheet of drawings: by line 2 to the sounder at, the sending or key instrument 3, the sounder to the right of such instrument, the battery and line between stations A and B to the sounder or receiving instrument 4? at station E, thence past the key or sending instrument 3, thence through the sounder or receiving instrument l to the line between the stations B and G,and so on. It will be understood that when the line is in normal condition the operator at any of the stations can make a ground connection at pleasure, should that be found desirable, by use of the groundswitch 12. In such event the connections would be from his sending instrument 3 by wire '7 or S, accordingly as the switch is moved into a contact with the point 14; or 15, thence through the switch 12, wires 13 and 6, to ground. Now suppose the operator at the station B should set the semaphore which controls the section between the stations B and C either to the caution or the clear position, (so far as the electrical connections are concerned it matters not to which position the semaphore is set.) Such setting of the semaphore-lever will close the contactpieces at the point 11 9, thus interposing a ground connection between his (Bs) sending instrument 3 and the station A. Under these conditions B may receive messages from station A or other stations in that direction, the circuit followed by the current being as follows: from the station A along the line 2 to the receiving instrument 4: at the station 13, thence by the wire 8 to the contact-piece 9, contact-piece 11, and wire (3 to ground. He cannot, however, send in the direction of A because of the interposed ground connection, the current taking the following course or circuit: from the battery 20 by the line to the receiving instrument t, key or sending instrument 3, line 8, contact 9 11, and wire (3 to the ground, the current taking this the circuit of least resistance inst-cad of the circuit through the sending instrument, the receiving instrument at, and the line 2 between the stations B and A. Under the same conditions it is to be noted that the operator at B can both send to and receive from the station O and other stations in that direction, the circuit being the line 2 between the stations B and O, the receiving instrument or sounder P, the key or sending instrument, line 8, contact 9 11, and wire 6 to ground. It

connection at the point 9 11. Under these circumstances he can receive from but not send to the station 0, the circuit from 0 being by the line 2, battery 20, the receiving instrument 4, wire 7, contact 9 l1, and groundwire 6, which circuit the current takes, it being of less resistance than the circuit including the line beyond the station B. It will be observed that the sending instrument 3 is cut out of the circuit between the station 0 and the ground connection just traced. The sending instrument is, however, still in the circuit between the said ground connection and the circuit in the direction of the station A, so that messages may be sent to and received from that station. That circuit may be traced from earth by wire 6, contact 11 and 9 wire 7, sending instrument 3, receiving instrument 4?, and line between stations B and 0. Should the operator at B set the semaphores controlling the sections in both directions to caution or clear at the same time, it will be understood without further description that the sending instrument will be cut out of circuit between both the stations A and O, the ground connections which connect with the line on each side of the sending instrument through the wires 7 and 8, respectively, both being completed by the setting of the signals. However, under the last-supposed conditions there will be included in each circuit between station A and the ground at B and between station 0 and the ground at B a receiving instrument, so that B can receive messages from either direction, though he cannot send.

I will now describe the operation of the system which I have illustrated and described.

A train approaches B from A, and the section between B and 0 being clear the operator at B shows the white or clear signal, and the train passes the station at full speed. As soon as the train has passed it is the duty of the operator to set the signal to the red or danger position and immediately thereafter to report to station A the fact of the passage of the train, thus informing the operator at A that the section between A and B is clear and that a train may with safety enter that section. Should the switch 12 be in its mid -position, the report from B would be made in both directions and station 0, as well as A, would be informed of the passage of the train. In setting the signal to the clear position to allow the train to pass a positive mechanical closing of the ground connection at 9 and 11 in the manner hereinbefore described takes place, and so long as this connection is maintained the operator at B cannot report to A, the line being grounded between these two offices. Should, therefore, the operator fail, through neglect or otherwise, to set his signal to the danger position before attempting to report back the passage of the train, he would'find it impossible to do so, and the operator at A, failing to receive report that the section was clear, would ever upon the line.

hold any train which might approach his station until he received information or instruction. While the grounding of the line at 9 and 11 operates to prevent the use of the line from B to A, it does not prevent the operator at A from communicating with B. This is because the ground connection at station B is located between the sending instrument 3 of such station and the sounder or receiving instrument 4. The current will therefore pass through the sending instrument at A, the sounder or receiving instrument 43 at B, and go to ground by the course 8, 9, 11, and 6, and cause this sounder to operate. The manipulation of the key at B would cause a working of the line in the direction of O,should the switch 12 be in'its mid-position, by the current received from the battery in the line in the direction of C, and the operator at B would therefore be able to both send to and receive from the station 0. Should the switch 12 be in engagement with the contact-point 14, so as to cut out station 0, then manipulation of the key would have no effect what- Should a train approach station B from the direction of A before a train in the section between B and C passes therefrom, it is at the discretion of the train despatcher to order the operator at B to signal the approaching train from A to enter the next block under a cautionary signal and proceed toward the next station under full control, in which event the operator at B would show a green or caution signal. The position of the signal-lever 16 to give this cautionary signal causes a ground connection at 9 and 11 to be made the same as when the white or clear signal is shown, so that the conditions of the line are identical whether the clear or caution signal is displayed. It is only when the signal has been set to the danger position that the operator can report back that a train has passed his station, indicating thereby that the section back of such train is clear so far as obstruction from the said train is concerned. It will be understood that should a train approach from the station 0 then the signal for trains moving in that direction would be operated, and, such signal controlling the ground-contact 9 11, the same conditions as those above described will exist, with the exception that the station 0 will occupy the same relation to station B as did station A in the foregoing description, and vice versa.

It will be understood that some of the purposes of the invention would be attained were the signal-operating devices arranged to cause the line to be broken instead of grounded whenever the signal was set to a position other than that of danger; but I prefer the arrangement shown, as that enables the operator at the station where the ground connection is made to receive from both directions, though he cannot send in the direction in which the ground connection is made.

By arranging the two sounders or receiving instruments one on either side of the key or sending instrument, as shown, and arranging a ground-switch like that at 12 it is possible for the operator at a station to cut out the line in either direction, so that he shall send but one way, while at the same time keeping himself in communication with the line in both directions so far as receiving is concerned.

It will be apparent that a single groundwire and contact-piece 11 may be employed for any number of branch wires that may be used, it being apparent that at a junction between two railways a larger number of 0011- nections would be required than is shown in the drawings.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a telegraphic line, normally continuous from end to end and including stations with receiving and sending instruments, a ground connection for the line which is normally broken, a signal device, and means controlled by such signal device which, when the signal is moved out of its normal position, positively completes the ground connection of the line, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a telegraphic line, normally continuous and including stations with sending and receiving instruments, signaling devices at a station in such line, independent ground connections at such station connecting with the line on either side of the sending instrument, and means controlled by the said signaling devices for completing the ground connections whenever the signals are moved out of their normal positions, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a telegraphic line, normally continuous and including stations with sending and receiving instruments, a ground connection for the line having connection therewith between a sending and a receiving instrument, such connection being broken under normal conditions, a signal device, and means controlled by such signal device for completing the ground connection whenever the signal is moved. out of its nor mal position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a telegraphic line including stations with sending and receiving instruments, of a sending instrument in the line, two receiving instruments at the same station with the said sending instrument, located one on each side thereof, a normally open or broken ground connection or circuit connected with the line between the sending instrument and one of the receiving instruments, a signal device which controls the section 011 the side of the sending instrument opposite to the said ground connection, and means controlled by the said signal device for completing or closing the said ground connection whenever the signal is moved from its normal position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a telegraphic line, a sending instrument therein, receiving instruments therein located at the same station as the said sending instrument and arranged one on either side of the sending instrument, two ground connections connected with the line, one on either side of the sending instrument and between it and the said receiving instrument, and contact making and breaking devices in the said ground connection, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of signal devices, a

telegraphic line,a sending instrument therein,

receiving instruments therein, one on either side of the sending instrument, two ground connections connected with the line, one on either side of the sending instrument and between it and the said receiving instrument, and contact making and breaking devices in the said ground connections controlled by the said signal devices, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a telegraphic line, a sending instrument therein, branch lines connected with the main line, one on either side of the sending instrument, independent con tact-making pieces in such branch lines, a ground connection with which the said contacts are adapted to be made to engage, and independent signal-operating devices for the different signals, arranged to control respectively the said contact-making pieces, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a signaling device, a telegraphicline,asendinginstrumeut therein, two receiving instruments in the line, one located on either side of the sending instrument, two ground connections controlled independently by signaling devices and connected with the main line one on either side of the sending instrument and between it and the receiving instruments, and a groundswitch in direct connection with the ground and adapted to' make contact with either of the ground connections or to occupy a position out of contact with each, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a telegraphic line, a sending instrument therein, two receiving instruments located at the same station as the said sending instrument and arranged one on either side of the sending instrument, and a two-point ground-switch adapted to connect the main line with the ground between the sending instrument and either one or the other of the receiving instruments according as the switch is set, substantially as set forth.

XVILLIAM O. TABER.

\Vitnesses:

ALLEN F. OOLLY, CLIFFORD MOLAUGHLIN. 

